Cruise Port - Piraeus, Greece

The History of Piraeus

Piraeus has served as the port for Athens since the Golden Age. The port was conceived during the the fifth century BC by Themistocles, who foresaw the potential of its three deep water harbors. The early buildings and docks were extended by Pericles with the construction of fortified 'Long Walls' to protect the corridor to Athens. Today it is a substantial city in itself, handling much of Greater Athens' commerce. For the majority of visitors, however, it is Piraeus's inter-island ferries that are the reason for coming. The port despatches up to 60 ferries each day.

Incidentally the correct Greek way to spell Piraeus is now Pireas, and all signs have been changed accordingly.

Athens is just seven miles from Piraeus, and most tourists will spend the majority of their visit in Athens, rather than Piraeus. Situated on a plain surrounded by five mountains, Athens can get hot, sticky and dirty in summer. But at the city's center stands the iconic Acropolis, a magnetic attraction for travellers from all around the world. Near the Acropolis lies the welcoming tourist-friendly district of Plaka, a place full of historic interest, and the Acropolis and Plaka form the main draw for travellers.

Port of Piraeus
Your ship will dock in the Piraeus Port located to the south of the city. The port sits on the Saronic Gulf, in the Aegean Sea. Piraeus port is a major ferry terminus, providing a service to the many Greek Islands. As Greece is made up of many islands, ferry traffic is vital and ferries arrive at and leave from Piraeus round the clock. The cruise ship berths are on the southern side of the port.

Cruiseliners moor at Cruise Terminal A or Cruise Terminal B. Cruise Terminal A, accessed by gate E11, is situated in mid-harbour sandwiched by the Mioulis and Xaveris quays. Cruise Terminal B, approached by gate E12, lies at the mouth of the harbour, inside the Termistokleous pier. The cruise ship capacity of the port is up to 11 ships, depending on their size.

The cruise ship routes from Piraeus include a wide selection from ports in the Greek Islands, Israel, Egypt, Turkey and the Black Sea. For a comprehensive listing of cruises, Cruises From Piraeus.

Sightseeing in Athens

The Acropolis
The main attraction in Athens is the Acropolis. It costs EUR12 for admittance into the Acropolis.
At the top of the Acropolis stands the magnificent Parthenon, a superb ancient Greek temple, a magestic sight from everywhere in Athens.
Another iconic building is the Erechtheion. The 6 caryatids that act as pillars are replicas - you can see 5 of the originals in the Acropolis museum. Number 6 is in the British Museum in London, together with large pieces of the Parthenon frieze.

Syntagma Square
Look at the soldiers wearing their one-of-a-kind skirt with white tights and oddball shoes. A memorable sight is the changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Plaka
Just down from the Acropolis sits Plaka. This pretty area is made up of pedestrian streets, shops and pavement restaurants.

Roman Forum in Plaka
The Roman Agora is situated at the west side of Plaka. Here sits the interesting Tower of the Winds, a 8 sided tower with a different wind god on each side. Shares ticket with Acropolis.

The Shops in Plaka
There are a ton of local products worth considering. olive oil, small carpets, and leather shoes are all sourced nearby and give great value for money. The local antiques market is bustling and interesting.

Restaurants in Plaka
Dining in one of the pavement restaurants enjoying a plate of local food with a glass of ouzo is a very enjoyable way to spend the evening.

Things to See in Piraeus
Marina Zea, the leisure marina - pretty waterside, with cafes and bars.

Hellenic Nautical Museum - painting, models, flags, maps all with a Greek nautical theme.

Archeological Museum - impressive bronze statues of the Greek gods, from both the Classical and Roman periods.

Getting to the Cruise Terminals
From the Piraeus Metro Line station
It's around 1 mile from the station to Cruise Terminal A, and about a mile and a half to Cruise Terminal B. Walking's not practical, as its quite a hike on a boiling day. Instead walk over the main road via the new bridge for pedestrians. Take one of the following buses to the cruise terminal: 832, 833, 843, 859.

From Athens City Center to Piraeus Port
Metro Line
The best way to travel from Athens to the Piraeus Port is via the metro electric rail line. ISAP Line 1 (green, Kifissia - Piraeus) joins the city of Athens directly to Piraeus Port. Look at the metro map (http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/ath/athens.htm) for the correct route to take from your location in Athens.
By Bus
There are 2 buses that travel between Piraeus and Athens. Buses Nos 040 and 049 operate all day, running every 20 minutes from 6am until midnight and then every hour. Bus No 040 runs Cruise Departure Port - Piraeus, Greecebetween Syntagma square (Plaka district) in Athens and Akti Xaveriou in Piraeus (situated right between the cruise terminals). Bus No 049 links Omonia Square in Athens and Themistokleous Square in Piraeus. Get off at Karaiskaki square which is opposite gate E8, and from here take a 843 bus to the cruise terminals located at gate E11 or E12.
Taxi
Taxi fares are relatively low in Athens, but scam taxi drivers are fairly not uncommon, so use the service arranged by your hotel. It's extra for baggage (EUR0,30 for each item), and extra for entrance to the port ( EUR0,60). The trip between Athens' center and Piraeus takes around 30 min and the taxi fare is around EUR20.

Travelling from Athens Airport to Piraeus
Metro Train
Line 3 links the airport to Monastiraki station where you change to Line 1, taking you to Piraeus. The journey time between the airport and the port is about an hour and a quarter.
Bus
Bus no X96 runs day and night between the airport and Piraeus's Karaïskaki Square, with services 3 times an hour. The bus leaves from the area outside arrivals Gate 5. On arrival at Piraeus catch a further bus to the cruise terminals (numberno 832, 833, 843 or 859).
Taxi
There's a surcharge for trips from Athens' airport, luggage costs more per item and the ride takes at least 1 hour (iit's 30 km between Athens' airport and Piraeus port) so the cab price can come to €50 or more.

Southampton, England - The UK's busiest cruise port

Introducing the Cruise Port of Southampton

The Port of Southampton found fame in the 20th century as the UK's most important port of departure for the great cruise lines. In terms of number of passengers, the busiest route used to be the cross-atlantic voyage to the United States. However in 1939 the first ever Pan Am flight across the Atlantic heralded the end of this remarkable era of sea travel. In the following years Southampton reinvented itself as a major embarkation port for cruises.

The port is split between the Eastern Docks and Western Docks. The Western Docks are the location for the Mayflower and City Cruise Terminals, the Eastern Docks the location for the QE2 and Ocean Cruise Terminals.

The Eastern Docks saw perhaps Southampton's biggest moment in history. In 1912 the Titanic departed from White Star Dock (near today's Ocean dock) on its maiden voyage. When the ship went down, of the 1500 lives lost, 500 were crew who lived in Southampton and the impact on the city was long-lived.

You Choose The Cruise
Cruises from Southampton include the Baltic Sea, Canary Islands, round Britain, Norwegian Fjords and the Mediterranean. Transatlantic and longer cruises are also available. If you're UK based cruises departing from Southampton could not be easier, due to its excellent rail and road links. For a comprehensive list of cruises leaving from Southampton see Cruises From Southampton.

A selection of routes available would be
2 Night Short Break (PO Ventura) (Southampton, Zeebrugge, Southampton)

Canaries Spring Cruise (Fred Olsen Black Watch) (Southampton, Funchal, St Cruz De La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Agadir, Arrecife, Southampton)

Western Mediterranean (PO Oceana) (Southampton, Gibraltar, Cartagena, Civitavecchia, Livorno, Monaco, Barcelona, Cadiz, Southampton)

Norwegian Fjords (PO Ventura) (Southampton, Bergen, Flam, Olden, Stavanger, Southampton)

Baltic (PO Arcadia) (Southampton, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Tallinn, Oslo, Kristiansund, Southampton)

Guide to Southampton Cruise Terminals
Eastern Docks
Queen Elizabeth II Terminal, Berths 38 and 39
The QE2 terminal was opened in 1966 by the Queen. The terminal is the home of Cunard's cruiseliners, Queen Mary II, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. Facilities include a short stay car park, a bar, a taxi rank and a cafe. The viewing area is not open to visitors.

Ocean Cruise Terminal, Berth 46
The original Ocean Cruise Terminal was a designer Art-Deco construction. Unfortunately this was demolished in 1983 The replacement building, completed in 2009, is a total change from its namesake, being a huge modern design with simple curved lines. Facilites available are a cab rank, a short stay car park, and a restaurant and bar.

Western Docks
City Cruise Terminal, Berth 101
This Terminal has undergone an ambitious renovation to double its size. It can now handle the largest 'Freedom Class' ships of RCI. Facilities available are a short stay car park, a taxi rank, a bar and cafe. Closeby Mayflower Park is a great place to watch ship sailings.

Horzion Cruise Terinal Berth 102
Horizon cruise terminal was inaugurated in 2021, thanks to a partnership between Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and the port. The two level terminal offers a full range of modern facilities..

Mayflower Cruise Terminal, Berth 106
The Mayflower Cruise Terminal, opened in 1960, has long been associated with the P&O fleet of cruise ships. Facilities include a taxi rank, a bar and cafe, and viewing gallery.

Sightseeing in Southampton
Southampton is normally viewed as a port of departure, and not many cruise passengers linger to investigate the city itself. Though if you've spare time at one or the other end of your cruise, there's plenty to do and see.

Old Town
In the medieval era, the town was surrounded by a fortified wall with imposing gate buildings. The 'Bargate' at the northern end of the old town, is still Southampton's most famous building. The building is a good location to start the walk of the city's walls. Stop at the guardtowers, the remains of the castle, the West Gate, the remains of the and God's House Tower where you'll find is home to} the local Archaeological Museum (free). Other noticable places include the fully restored Medieval Merchants House, the Maritime Museum in the old Wool House (free entrance), with its Titanic exhibits, and the beautiful Tudor House, a (free) museum with peaceful grounds.

Shopping Centers
The city's main retail center, Above Bar, is where you'll find the main high street chains. An alternative destination is Ocean Village which has undercover outlets, a peaceful marina and many bars and excellent restaurants. Another possibility is the modern West Quay retail center which features leading chain stores.

Art Exhibitions
Southampton Art Gallery has a good reputation for its collection of pre-Raphaelite art.

Aviation Museum
The Solent Sky Aviation Museum showcases the innovative work of R Mitchell, the Spitfire's creator.

The Titanic Trail
Walk around the trail finding out about places with connections to the Titanic. The walk commences at the Musicians Memorial and stops at the Maritime Museum, situated in the Wool House, which showcases the history of the tragic voyage.

The New Forest
An enchanting area known for its unique heathland, and ancient arrangements of animal pastures.

Getting to Southampton's Cruise TerminalsBy Car
The M27 motorway, linking places along the south coast of England, passes to the north of the city. The M3 motorway links Southampton to London and also, by linking to the A34 road with the Midlands and North. The M271 motorway, a spur of the M27, connects it with the Docks and city centre.

By Rail
Direct trains link Southampton with London, and many other parts of the UK. There is an every 30 minute service between London Waterloo and Southampton Central station. Rail routes run east towards Portsmouth, north towards the Midlands, and west to cities such as Salisbury, Bath, and Bristol.
From outside the train station you can either catch a taxi, or there is a free CityLink bus service between the rail station and Town Quay every quarter-hour.

By Aeroplane
From London Heathrow Airport There is a National Express coach to and from Heathrow Terminal every hour.
From London Gatwick Take the train to Southampton Central station.
From Southampton Airport Catch a taxi to the port. The airport is well served, with planes from Belfast, Jersey, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Guernsey, Leeds, Glasgow, Manchester, Isle of Man, Aberdeen and Liverpool.

Cruise Port - Port Canaveral, Florida

Introduction

On one of the long offshore islands fronting the Atlantic coast of Florida, halfway between Jacksonville and Miami, sits Cape Canaveral. Enclosing the city to the east is the Banana River, on the north side is Port Canaveral, on the west side is the Atlantic Ocean and on the south side is Cocoa Beach.

The currents which whirl around the Cape make it perilous to ships, and countless seamen have met their fate in wrecks around the Cape. The promontory was named Cape Canaveral by seamen from Spain during the sixteenth century. The Cape Canaveral Lighthouse was erected in 1844 with the aim of making the coast safer for shipping.

In the 1910s a small community centered on fishing was founded just south of Cape Canaveral. The town was called Artesia. To the south of Artesia the community of Avon-by-the-Sea, with streets named after presidents, was started by a club of property speculators. WWII brought about the establishment of Banana River Naval Air Station at the Cape which had the role of supporting coastal seaplanes.

After World War 2 the US air-force, searching for a neck of land extending into the Atlantic ocean to make an ideal launch base, selected the Cape. Avon-by-the-Sea and Artesia were engulfed by the new facilities constructed to cater for the space employees of the base, and the city of Cape Canaveral was founded.

The Cape Canaveral base needed a facility for retrieving booster rockets from the ocean, and Port Canaveral was constructed and dedicated in 1953. The theme parks of central Florida are a huge attraction, and in the 1970s the port was first utilized by cruise ships as it was a port-of-call close to Orlando. During the next decade, Premier Cruises and Carnival Cruises based ships at Port Canaveral, offering cruises to Freeport from newly constructed cruise ship terminals. The 1990s were a period of fast expansion for the cruise port, with the construction of cruise terminals 5, 8, and 10. Disney cruises started operating from the port.

Today more than a million passengers depart on their cruise vacation from Port Canaveral every year. Royal Caribbean and NCL have been added to the list of cruise lines operating cruises from the port.

You Choose The Cruise

Cruises on offer include the Eastern Caribbean (St Maarten, San Juan and St Thomas), the Western Caribbean (Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize and Roatan), or the Bahamas (Freeport and Nassau). Longer trips are also to be had, such as transatlantic cruises to Europe. For a list of cruises from Cape Canaveral, see cruises from Port Canaveral.


Port Canaveral Cruise Terminals



Port Canaveral has several cruise terminals, though just 3 are used day-in/day-out for multi-day cruise ships. These are terminals 5, 8 and 10 which are on the north west shore of the port. Terminal 2 hosts a casino cruise ship. Terminals 3 and 4 are not utilized often.



A Side (North) Terminals

Cruise terminal buildings 5, 8 and 10 are sited on the A or north side, alongside Charles M Rowland Drive.

These more modern terminals are each capable of handling 3000 plus people, and have large docks to berth the newer super sized ships.

Cruise Terminal 5 is an attractive 2 story building, with a 30ft high central hall filled with tropical vegetation and gushing waterfalls. Embarking cruisers are handled on the top storey, disembarking passengers on the bottom. Cruise Terminal 8 was constructed for Disney Cruise Line, and is an eye-catching art-nouveau style terminal with an impressive 90ft circular glass foyer. Cruise Terminal 10 has a 3 layered passenger loading/unloading arrangement, and completely automated baggage processing. The cruise terminals respective dock lengths are: terminal 5 970ft, terminal 8 1000ft, terminal 10 1100ft.

Each terminal provides the necessary facilities including pay phones, ATMs, check-in desks, restrooms, vending machines and cab rank. A dedicated parking lot for the use of passengers is situated next to each terminal building.




B Side (South) Terminals

Cruise terminals 2, 3 and 4 are located on the south west or B side, along George King Boulevard. These terminal buildings were amongst Port Canaveral's first facilities dedicated to the cruise lines, and each can handle about 1800 passengers. The 3 terminals share 2,150 ft of continuous dock offering the capacity to accommodate two large or three medium-length cruise ships.

A large parking area for passengers’ use stands adjacent to each cruise terminal building.

For the port website see Port Canaveral Port Authority.


Sightseeing Around Port Canaveral

Jetty Park
Jetty Park is a attractive coastline park which encompasses a beach, picnic areas, pavilions, camping and a playground. A favorite with both walkers and fishermen is Jetty Park pier, which offers great views of marine traffic departing from/arriving at Port Canaveral, and super fishing for tarpon, common jacks and redfish. The long sandy Atlantic-facing beach offers many facilities like year-round lifeguards, convenient parking, showers and restrooms. The lively Cove Waterfront area positioned between the park and the port has shops, cafes and restaurants. The park is managed by the Port Authority, and is located on the south side of the port’s exit channel.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
The excitement of space travel is infectious to almost everybody. The Kennedy Space Center is the core of NASA’s activities and was the launch pad for the Apollo missions. At the Center you can go by bus to the LC39 Gantry and the Apollo Center, watch a movie at the IMAX center, learn about the future of space exploration at the Exploration Space exhibition and undergo the Shuttle Launch Experience. The Center is only 10 miles northwards of the port.

US Astronaut Hall of Fame
The Astronaut Hall of Fame celebrates American astronauts. See an absorbing collection including space suits, a realistic astronaut training simulator, the Sigma 7 Mercury rocket and the Science On A Sphere exhibition. The Hall of Fame is about 5 miles west from the Space Center.

Cocoa Beach Pier
Originally built in 1962 Cocoa Beach Pier is among the most popular landmarks on the Space coast. The 800 foot pier houses souvenir shops, four bars, frequent live street entertainment and 5 restaurants. The beach next to the pier has restrooms, beach-hire stalls, freshwater showers and year-round life guards. Cocoa Beach is only 5 miles south of the port.

Orlando Amusement Parks
Head west from the Port on Martin Andersen Beachline Expressway to reach fabulous attractions like Disney/MGM Studios, Universal Studios, Sea World of Florida and Walt Disney World all of which are no more than an hour’s drive away.


Getting To The Cruise Port

By Car
North Cruise Terminals
Drive towards Port Canaveral on Hwy 528, cross Merritt Island, and exit at the sign marked A Cruise Terminals onto SR 401 North. Drive 1 mile on SR 401 North next exit at the sign marked with the cruiselines.
South Cruise Terminals
Enter into Port Canaveral on Highway 528 and leave at the sign marked B Cruise Terminals. Next make a left under bridge to George King Boulevard. Carry on for a mile. Next follow directions to get to the required cruise terminal.

By Air
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport, positioned in the southern outskirts of Orlando, is around 45 minutes drive west from Port Canaveral. Travel from the airport can be arranged by taxicab or shuttle.
Melbourne International Airport
Melbourne International Airport is roughly 30 miles south of Port Canaveral. Travel from the airport is possible by shuttle bus or cab.